TOWN hall planners have refused to grant permission for another digital advertising screen.

An application to replace an existing advertisement hoarding in Bolton town centre with a LED display has been refused by the council.

The plan submitted by Clear Channel UK, part of a US-based global media conglomerate, was to install a three-by-six-metre screen opposite the old Moor Lane bus station.

However, planning officers ruled that the screen would impact on the setting and appearance of the neighbouring Grade-II listed Church of St Paul.

They said: “The proposed display screen, due to its size, appearance, position and means of illumination, would create an intrusive and overly dominant feature in the street scene along one of Bolton’s main radial routes.”

This comes after a planning agent called on the council to be “more flexible” with its stance on digital advertising screens to be “on par” with cities like Manchester.

Sohail Musa claims the new screens are more sustainable and economically viable.

He intends to appeal officers’ decisions on two applications for LED screens in Derby Street and Blackburn Road.

Officers said that the screen in Astley Bridge would “adversely affect” the amenity of the building, the site and the local area by reason of its design, size, materials and illumination.

They also said that an internally illuminated sign on the side of Tivoli House in Derby Street would have a detrimental impact on the amenity and living conditions of occupiers of the adjacent residential properties.

In the decision notice, they cited its size, appearance, means of illumination, position and its imposing nature and proximity to habitable room windows.

Bolton Council granted planning permission for a digital billboard on the Lower Bridgeman Street side of the former World of Wicker building earlier this year.

Manchester-based company PMA Outdoor Media was granted planning permission to install the LED screen in September.

The six-by-four-metre high definition screen, which went live in February, was said to be the first of its kind in the town.